Radlin, Silesian Voivodeship

Radlin is a town in Wodzisław County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland, with 16,829 inhabitants. It is located in southern part of the Voivodeship, close to the Czech border.

History

First mention of the settlement of Biertułtowy comes from 1305, as Bertholdi villa, when it was part of Piast-ruled Poland. The very name Radlin probably comes from the Polish word radło, which means ard.
In the 18th century, it was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. In the 19th century, Radlin was one of the biggest villages of the Rybnik County. Like other locations of Upper Silesia, it grew in the 19th century, when several enterprises were opened there – Coal Mine Marcel, Coke Plant Radlin. In 1922, after Silesian Uprisings, it became again part of Poland.
Following the German-Soviet invasion of Poland, which started World War II in September 1939, Radlin was occupied by Germany until 1945. Two mine workers from Radlin were murdered by the Russians in the Katyn massacre in 1940.
Between 1975 and 1997 Radlin was a district of the city of Wodzisław Śląski.

Sport

Górnik Radlin – men's volleyball team playing in Polish Volleyball League
KS Górnik Radlin – men's football team, formerly playing in the top division
KG Radlin – gymnastic club, founded in 1920, where 20 Polish Olympic athletes trained

Sights

Graduation Tower – first graduation tower on an industrial side of Upper Silesia in Poland
Kolonia Emma – modernist estate of the nineteenth century designed as a "garden city"

Notable people

Bolesław Kominek, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
Leszek Blanik, gymnast, World and Olympic champion

Twin towns – sister cities

Radlin is twinned with: